Original White House Cookbook

Sweet omelets are generally used for breakfast or plain desserts. PLAIN OMELET. Put a smooth, clean, iron frying pan on the fire to heat; meanwhile, beat four eggs very light, the whites to a stiff froth and the yolks to a thick batter. Add to the yolks four tablespoonfuls of milk, pepper and salt ; and, lastly, stir in the whites lightly. Put a piece of butter nearly half the size of an egg into the heated pan ; turn it so that it will moisten the entire bottom, taking care that it does not scorch. Just as it begins to boil, pour in the eggs. Hold the frying pan handle in your left hand, and, as the eggs whiten, carefully, with a spoon, draw up lightly from the bottom, letting the raw part run out on the pan, till all be equally cooked ; shake with your left hand, till the omelet be free from the pan, then turn with a spoon one half of the omelet over the other ; let it remain a moment, but continue shaking, lest it adhere ; toss to a warm platter held in the right hand, or lift with a flat, broad shovel ; the omelet will be firm around the edge, but creamy and light inside. MEAT OR FISH OMELETS. Take cold meat, fish, game or poultry of any kind; remove all skin, sinew, etc., and either cut it small or pound it to a paste in a mortar, together with a proper proportion of spices and salt; then either toss it in a buttered frying pan over a clear fire till it begins to brown and pour beaten eggs upon it, or beat it up with the eggs, or spread it upon them after they have begun to set in the pan. In any case serve hot, with or without a sauce, but garnish with crisp herbs in branches, pickles, or sliced lemon. The right proportion is one tablespoonful of meat to four eggs. A little milk, gravy, water, or white wine, may be advantageously added to the eggs while they are being beaten. Potted meats make admirable omelets in the above manner. VEGETABLE OMELET. Make a puree by mashing up ready-dressed vegetables, together with a little milk, cream or gravy and some seasoning. The most suitable vegetables are cucumbers, artichokes, onions, sorrel, green peas, tomatoes, lentils, mushrooms, asparagus tops, potatoes, trufiles or turnips. Prepare some eggs by beating them very light. Pour them into a nice hot frying pan, containing a spoonful of butter; spread the puree upon the upper side; and when perfectly hot, turn or fold the omelet together and serve. Or cold vegetables may be merely chopped small, then tossed in a little butter, and some beaten and seasoned eggs poured over. OMELET OF HERBS. Parsley, thyme and sweet marjoram mixed gives the famous omelette aux fines herhes so popular at every wayside inn in the most remote corner of sunny France. An omelet “jardiniere” is two tablespoonfuls of mixed parsley, onion, chives, shallots and a few leaves each of sorrel and chevril, minced fine and stirred into the beaten eggs before cooking. It will take a little more butter to fry it than a plain one. CHEESE OMELET. Beat up three eggs, and add to them a tablespoonful of milk and a tablespoonful of grated cheese; add a little more cheese before folding; turn it out on a hot dish; grate a little cheese over it before serving. ASPARAGUS OMELET.